manni-yunk
Contributor
I have read a lot about the correct use of dive flags on this and other sites. I have also seen a lot of misinformation being published online. I want to post what I do, and why I do it. My diving is 90% private boat diving off the Coast of NJ, DE, and MD. (Mostly NJ as that is the home port). We are anywhere from 4 to 50 miles from shore and sometimes in close proximity to shipping lanes. We are also near vessels engaged in fishing operations (graggers, potters, long liners, etc)
We set up our flags from the outriggers that are not laid down - so they are vertical and roughly 24 feet above the water. We send the ALPHA flag up first. The Alpha flag is more easily recognized by captains of transport vessels - or from NON U.S. fishing and transport boat captains. Really anyone NOT from the US. we have a lot of ship traffic going in and out of the DE bay. Internationel vessels are VERY common on the east coast. The APHA flag is in fact a "vessel engaged in diving operations" and NOT just a "vessel restriced to manuever".
A lot of international captains would not know what a red and white diver down flag is.
BUT - since much of the boat traffic is from our waters - we also fly a red and white DIVER DOWN flag. Immediately below the ALPHA Flag.
I believe, from a dive boat- that this is the correct way to signal you have divers in the water - and correctly communicate to any captain that you have divers in the water.
This does not make up for untrained operators - but we always have a lookout with hailer,VHF radio, and horn capabilities.
Luckily, in NJ- everyone is required to take a basic operators course and Dive flag recognition is covered - so almost everyone that will be operating a boat in the 10 - 30 mile range (where we spend most of our time) knows what we are doing and they stay far enough away.
We set up our flags from the outriggers that are not laid down - so they are vertical and roughly 24 feet above the water. We send the ALPHA flag up first. The Alpha flag is more easily recognized by captains of transport vessels - or from NON U.S. fishing and transport boat captains. Really anyone NOT from the US. we have a lot of ship traffic going in and out of the DE bay. Internationel vessels are VERY common on the east coast. The APHA flag is in fact a "vessel engaged in diving operations" and NOT just a "vessel restriced to manuever".
A lot of international captains would not know what a red and white diver down flag is.
BUT - since much of the boat traffic is from our waters - we also fly a red and white DIVER DOWN flag. Immediately below the ALPHA Flag.
I believe, from a dive boat- that this is the correct way to signal you have divers in the water - and correctly communicate to any captain that you have divers in the water.
This does not make up for untrained operators - but we always have a lookout with hailer,VHF radio, and horn capabilities.
Luckily, in NJ- everyone is required to take a basic operators course and Dive flag recognition is covered - so almost everyone that will be operating a boat in the 10 - 30 mile range (where we spend most of our time) knows what we are doing and they stay far enough away.